Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 03095851 2020-10-01
DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NANOCELLULOSE
DESCRIPTION
The invention concerns a device and a process for the production of
nanofibers,
especially, nanocellulose from a fiber-containing, primarily pulp and / or
cellulose, mixture of substances.
To date, a range of devices and methods have been developed for the production
of nanofibers from natural raw materials, primarily from cellulose and / or
pulp,
for the production of nanocellulose. Amongst other things, micro- and / or
nanofibers are distinguished between in specialist literature, whereby,
numerous,
different terms are used such as, for example, microfibrillated cellulose
(MFC) or
nanofibrillated fibers and / or nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC). Such
materials are
used increasingly in many technical fields, for example, as reinforcing
materials
or also even as barrier layers for paper, cardboard and similar items.
The processing of fibers, especially cellulose, is performed by fibrillation
of the
cell walls and exposure of the nanofibers, especially of nanocellulose.
Consequently, the disintegrating takes place primarily along the length of the
fibers and less through the shortening of the fibers in the cross direction.
Amongst other things, state-of-the-art microfluidizers are familiar in the
production of nanocellulose. In a microfluidizer, such as in EP3088605A1, a
primary fiber-containing fluid flow is crossed by a secondary fiber-containing
fluid
flow in order to cause the fibrillation of the cellulose into nanocellulose.
Thereby,
the fibers are led under high pressure through a microchannel with a fixed
internal geometry in which, due to shear forces and impact effects, the cell
walls
of the fibers are broken open.
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Another method for the production of nanocellulose can be implemented in the
form of a homogenizer, such as revealed in 3P201304142A1. In doing so, a fiber-
containing substance mixture is pressed by means of high pressure through a
valve seat in order to be then pressed radially through a microns-only wide
homogenization gap and subsequently against a radially arranged impact ring.
The action of such a high-pressure homogenizer is based on the shearing of the
fibers through the changes in the speed of the fluid, the impact loads on the
impact ring and on cavitation.
It is also possible to produce nanocellulose by means of a refiner or also a
grinding machine as, for example, revealed in W02013072558A 1. With refiners,
normally two grinding plates connected to each other are guided together up to
a
grinding gap and a fiber-containing substance mixture is pressed in the centre
of
the grinding plates. The counter movement of the fully wetted grinding plates
enables the disintegrating of fibers into nanofibers.
The previously known methods and / or devices require a high energy input and
are inclined to process interruptions due to blockages in narrow places such
as
valve seats, channels, nozzles and the like. Furthermore, known devices are
not
suitable for the processing of large volumes of fiber-containing substance
mixtures for the production of nanofibers, notably nanocellulose, with only a
low
energy input.
Within the scope of the following explanation, mainly examples from the paper
and pulp industry are used to explain the principle of disintegrating of
fibers into
nanofibers. The device of the invention and the associated process, however,
cannot only be used logically on plant fibers but analogously also on fiber-
containing substance mixtures with animal origins, such as fibers from sea
squirts, or synthetic origins.
The present invention's purpose is to overcome the disadvantages of the state-
of-the-art of technology and to make available a device and a process by means
of which a user is able to carry out the simple, energy-efficient and
practical
disintegrating of the fibers of a substance mixture, in particular those of
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cellulose, for the production of, primarily, nanocellulose. Other purposes of
the
invention are to increase the process reliability, to minimize blockages or
even to
avoid them completely, and to be able to process large quantities of fiber-
containing substance mixtures, especially pulp. Moreover, the invention forms
the basis for the increasing of the homogeneity of the processed substance
mixture and / or the guaranteeing of continuous production.
These purposes are met by means of a device and a process in accordance with
the claims.
In accordance with the invention, the fibers to be disintegrated, especially
cellulose or also pulp, are made available in the form of a substance mixture
with
a liquid component, notably water. The substance mixture can have a dispersion
of fibers with different diameters and or lengths. Previously disintegrated
fibers
can also be contained in the substance mixture. The fibers to be disintegrated
can include a large number of micro-fibrils that typically have a diameter of
10 to
100nm and a length of 0.5 to 10um.
Within the scope of the present invention, nanofibers are primarily understood
to
be elongated component parts of fibers and / or micro-fibrils that have a
thickness direction or also a diameter in the range of some 5 to 30 nm and a
significantly greater elongation. This relationship of elongation to nanofiber
thickness can be expressed as the "aspect ratio" and is usually greater than
50.
The device according to the invention for the production of nanofibers,
primarily
of nanocellulose, from a fiber-containing substance mixture includes at least
one
discharge element with a discharge opening for the passage of a fiber-
containing
mixture of substances, at least one supply unit for the supply of the fiber-
containing mixture of substances to the discharge element with a
predeterminable process pressure and at least one positioning device for the
positioning of the discharge element. For the disintegrating of the fiber-
containing mixture of substances, a moveable processing body is arranged
opposite relative to at least one discharge element, whereby on the passage of
the fiber-containing mixture of substances through the discharge element a
slit-
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like processing area is formed between the discharge element and the substance
mixture impacted partial surface of the moveable processing body.
The process according to the invention makes use of such a device and includes
the process steps:
- Preparation of the invention-related device;
- Preparation of the substance mixture that contains at least one liquid
component, preferably water, and fibers, preferably pulp;
- Movement of the moveable processing body relative to at least one
discharge
element at a predeterminable relative speed;
- The pressing of the fiber-containing substance mixture through at least
the one
discharge element with a predeterminable process pressure;
- Processing of the substance mixtures through the formation of a slit-like
processing area for the disintegrating of fibers between the discharge element
and a substance mixture loaded partial surface (a partial surface on which the
substance mixture acts) of the moveable processing body through the
positioning
of the discharge element relative to the moveable processing body.
Through the relative movement of the processing body relative to the discharge
element and, therefore, also the discharge opening, a shear field is generated
at
least in the slit-like formed processing area. The predeterminable process
pressure creates a change in speed of the fluid, respectively the substance
mixture, in the processing area and allows the continuous flow through of the
substance mixture, the fibers of which are disintegrated in the shear field
through the separation of the cell walls. In the process, long and / or
insufficiently disintegrated, respectively processed, fibers and / or other
disruptive material can be discharged from the processing area through the
relative movement of the processing body and prevent the blockage of the
device.
Thus, a relatively large amount of substance mixture can be processed and the
homogeneity of the processed substance mixture can be increased.
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Furthermore, the device according to the invention can be relatively simply
and
cost-efficiently manufactured and operated as complicated components are
eliminated. Potential wear parts are relatively easy to access and can be
replaced
at a low cost, whereby the operating times can be significantly increased.
With known configurations, such as a refiner, a comparatively high no-load
power for the movement of counter bodies, fully immersed in the substance
mixture and moveable relative to each other, is necessary. The present
invention
distinguishes itself from the state-of-the-art technology especially simply in
that
a comparatively low partial surface of the processing body is affected by the
substance mixture through which a particularly high energy efficiency can be
achieved. The processed substance mixture is very greatly accelerated on
leaving
the processing area and can be collected in a simple way by a housing
surrounding at least parts of the processing body and / or the discharge
element.
Thus, a part of the processing body is not in direct contact with the
substance
mixture. The processing body can, therefore, be moved with low resistance
whereby the overall power consumption can be significantly reduced by the
amount of the saved no-load power.
The device, and respectively the process according to the invention, are,
therefore, outstandingly suitable for the processing of substance mixtures
with
synthetic and / or organic fibers. The proportion of fibers in the substance
mixture can be chosen task-specific from approximately 0.1 to approximately 25
vol.%, preferably from 1 to 8 vol.%.
Through the substance discharge of the substance mixture on the discharge
element on to a partial surface of the oppositely arranged processing body, a
"passive" movement of the moveable processing body in the direction of motion
can be initiated.
In addition, it can also be useful, when the moveable processing head is
formed
to be driveable, by means of a drive unit, in a movement direction, primarily
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sideways, preferable normal, to one of the discharge element axes of the
discharge element.
This corresponds to an "active", and, therefore, a controllable movement of
the
moveable processing body in the direction of motion. The discharge element
axis
corresponds primarily to a specific longitudinal axis through the discharge
element in the centre of the discharge opening. In the process, the movement
takes place predominantly sideways, preferably normal, to the discharge
element
axis of the discharge element and can be initiated and controlled by means of
the
drive unit. In this way, the relative speed, and, therefore, the magnitude of
the
shear forces in the processing area can be relatively simply set.
In principle, it is also conceivable that the direction of motion of the
moveable
processing body can be essentially directed opposed to the direction of flow,
at a
specified angle to the substance-affected partial surface of the processing
body,
of the substance mixture.
In addition, it can also be designated that the moveable processing body
rotation
is formed symmetrically, similar to a disc, cylinder, cone or drum or band-
shaped
such as a chain or belt.
The selection of the geometry of the processing body can be done by a skilled
person, taking into account the available spatial conditions, feed rate and
drive
power, etc. In certain cases, however, band-shaped processing bodies, where
likewise only a part of the surface is in contact with the substance mixture,
can
be advantageous. The rotationally symmetric processing bodies also enable a
relatively simple, task-related construction and, in addition, can be formed
very
dimensionally stable, without excessive energy expenditure, for the acceptance
of the movement, as in each case only a substance affected partial surface is
sprayed with the substance mixture.
Especially advantageous, too, is an arrangement in accordance with which it
can
be provided that the moveable processing body is formed as a disc, rotatable
sideways, preferably normal, to the discharge element.
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With the implementation as a disc or plate, the advantages of low-cost
procurement, high service life and low maintenance expenditure can be
exploited
particularly well.
In addition, provision can be made that at least one positioning device is
formed
to move parallel to the rotation axis of the disc for the setting of the
predeterminable radial distance of the discharge element axis from the axis of
rotation.
This version allows an independent, or also an additional possibility, for the
control of the relative speed in the processing area which, due to the various
circumferential speeds in dependence on the radial distance to the rotation
axis,
can be set relatively easily. This measure, that especially with 'passively"
driven
processing bodies provides an effective method of setting the shear forces,
can
be implemented supplementary to or instead of the rotational speed control of
the drive unit.
According to further study, it is possible that the discharge element of the
discharge opening has at least in part an extensive functional surface for the
formation of a hydrodynamic bearing in the processing area. It is preferable
that
the discharge element is formed as one piece with the functional surface, but
can, however, be made up of several parts and be formed approximately in the
form of a replaceable end section of the discharge element.
The use of such an implemented discharge element allows the formation of a
hydrodynamic bearing, whereby the discharge element can be spaced contact-
free at a predeterminable operating distance from the substance mixture-
affected partial surface. The substance mixture-affected partial surface
corresponds in its shape and size essentially to the functional surface.
This allows in a simple way for the increase of the shear forces required for
the
crushing of the fibers, favourable pressures, such as the process pressure of
the
substance mixtures and / or the contact pressure of the discharge elements
without the discharge element grinding on the processing body. The grinding of
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the discharge element and / or the functional surface can be avoided by,
amongst other things, the formation of a fluid wedge in the processing area.
In addition, it can also be useful if the functional surface has a larger
longitudinal
extension in the direction of movement than in the cross section and / or
against
the direction of movement.
Through the optimization of the form of the functional surface, the
homogenization of the substance discharge along the perimeter of the
functional
surface can be achieved. In this way, the stability of the hydrodynamic
bearing
can also be improved and the homogeneity and / or quality of the processed
substance mixture can be improved.
In addition, provision can also be made so that the functional surface is
formed
complementary in shape to the substance mixture-affected partial surface of
the
moveable processing body.
Especially with curved inner and outer surfaces of the processing body, such
as
with a cylinder or a cone, the homogeneity of the substance mixture discharge
out of the processing area, which forms an uneven substance mixture-affected
partial surface, can be increased with this measure. This can significantly
contribute to the homogenization over the functional area of the local
discharge
speeds and / or shear forces on the fibers to be processed in the processing
area.
In addition, provision can be made so that at least one discharge element is
formed to be adjustable in a predeterminable solid angle to the discharge
element axis relative to the surface of the moveable processing body.
The advantages of this type of design lie in the adjustability and
stabilization of
the hydrodynamic bearing. Furthermore, the angular placement of the discharge
element, especially with "passively" moved moving bodies, can be used for the
setting of the relative speed and / or the shear forces in the processing
area. This
possibility is relatively easy and inexpensive to implement and enables an
increase in the quality of the processed substance mixtures.
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In accordance with a particular design, it is possible that the at least one
positioning device for the setting of an operating distance and / or a solid
angle
between the at least one discharge element and the substance mixture-affected
partial surface of the moveable processing body is formed as adjustable.
This can take place as a stand-alone measure or in combination with other
measures, such as the angular placement or even the setting of the process
pressure of the substance mixture.
In doing so, it can be particularly advantageous for the controlling of the
relative
speed of the moving processing body for the setting of the shear forces in the
slit-like processing area. It can be similarly advantageous that the operating
distance between the at least one discharge element and the corresponding
substance mixture-affected partial surface for the setting of the compressive
forces on the moving processing body is controlled at least by means of the
positioning device.
Thus, for example, the contact pressure of the discharge elements can be
precisely set and thereby be influenced by the discharge speed of the
processed
substance mixture, whereby, the level of the shear forces in the slit-like
processing area can be precisely set.
In accordance with a favorable further study, provision can be made so that a
solid angle of the discharge element axis of at least one discharge element,
preferably for the formation of the necessary fluid wedge of the hydrodynamic
bearing, is controlled by means of at least one positioning device.
Hereby, the level of the shear forces in the processing area can be precisely
set.
In addition, this measure can be used for the compensation of worn discharge
elements and / or functional surfaces. This enables improved homogeneity and /
or quality of the processed substance mixture over the operating time
respectively service life of the wear parts.
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It can be especially advantageous if an end section of at least one discharge
element relative to the opposite lying substance mixture-affected partial
surface
is at least partially flexibly mounted.
The end section of the discharge element can include a functional surface,
whereby a stabilization of the hydrodynamic bearing occurs. The end section
can
be formed essentially as freely moveable as a type of floating bearing
arrangement for the discharge element or also as pre-settable, whereby, the
compensation of wear on the discharge element and / or a functional surface is
made possible. Furthermore, blockages through long or insufficiently processed
fibers can be avoided.
Provision can also be made so that at least two discharge elements are
arranged
symmetrically in the circumferential direction and / or radial direction
relative to
the moveable processing body.
Through the arrangement of several discharge elements with a common
processing body, each forming a processing area, the throughput of substance
mixture can be significantly increased. This is especially advantageous as, if
necessary, during operation one or more discharge elements can be relatively
easily "switched on / off" and maintenance work on individual discharge
elements
is possible. In addition, this measure can be used to minimize or even fully
compensate for the any bending moments applied to the processing body by the
process pressure and / or contact pressure. This enables a more stable and
lower
maintenance work device.
In addition, provision can be made so that at least one second discharge
element
is arranged essentially opposite to a first discharge element, whereby the
first
discharge element is assigned to a first surface of the moveable processing
body
and the corresponding second discharge element is assigned to a second surface
lying opposite to the first surface.
Through the use of several discharge elements that, with a processing body,
each form a processing area, the throughput of the substance mixture can be
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significantly increased. Through the opposing arrangement of two corresponding
discharge elements, a reduction of the bending moments, up to the full
compensation of the bending moments, on, for example, the drive shaft of the
processing body or also the processing body itself, can be achieved. This
measure can be advantageous with both band-shaped processing bodies and
rotationally symmetrical processing bodies such as a cylinder or a disc as
long as
the substance mixture-affected partial surface of the corresponding discharge
elements essentially lie opposite the first and second surfaces.
Furthermore, provision can be made so that at least two discharge elements are
arranged along the direction of movement and / or normal to the direction of
movement of moveable processing bodies.
It is also conceivable here that the discharge elements are staggered, that is
mounted offset to each other, in at least one direction. The arrangement of
several discharge element enables higher productivity simply through the use
of
a common processing body. This advantage, analogous to the aforementioned
arrangement of the discharge elements lying opposite each other to the first
and
second surfaces, should be seen above all therein that the power consumption
for the drive of the moveable processing body increases only slightly or even
negligibly. Thus, a large amount of substance mixture can be simultaneously
processed very energy efficiently and cost effectively. It is, therefore, easy
to
imagine that several discharge elements can be arranged around a cylinder or
also a cone. Thereby, the discharge elements can basically also be arranged
opposite the first surface, that is, for example, an outer surface of the
cylinder,
through which compensation of the bending moments on the drive shaft of the
processing body can be achieved. It is likewise conceivable to arrange the
discharge elements in the circumferential direction of a disc, which has the
same
effect on the disc.
Especially advantageous, too, is an arrangement in accordance with which it
can
be provided that at least the moveable processing body is sealed off from the
drive unit by a housing by means of at least one contacting and / or contact-
free
sealing component, preferably a maintenance-free labyrinth seal.
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Due to the relatively simple design of the invention-related device, complex
sealing solutions can be dispensed with. The processing of the substance
mixture
takes place under the effects of a process pressure, however, as a rule the
substance mixture after discharge is exposed simply to atmospheric conditions.
A
housing that at least shields the substance-mixture-affected partial surface,
preferably the entire processing body against the environment, is advantageous
for the collection of the processed substance mixture. For the sealing of the
housing openings, such as the discharge elements or a drive shaft, simple,
contacting rubber seals, for example, can be used or also self-sealing,
maintenance-free labyrinth seals as they are known to the specialist. This
enables especially long maintenance intervals and low manufacturing costs.
It has proven to be an advantage when the housing is allocated a collection
tank
for the collection and / or further processing of the processed substance
mixture.
In certain cases, the essentially complete sealing of the housing is
beneficial in
order to put the processing area under negative or positive pressure or also
to
form a protective gas atmosphere in it, whereby the quality of the processed
substance mixture is specifically influenced.
According to further study, it is possible that before the delivery of the
substance
mixture, a chemical and / or enzymatic and / or mechanical pre-treatment of
the
substance mixture is carried out, preferably during the course of a grinding
process in a refiner.
Through a chemical and / or enzymatic pre-treatment, the separation of the
fiber
constituents can be specifically influenced, whereby the disintegrating to
nanofibers, especially nanocellulose, can be made easier. Such a pre-treatment
can be carried out in an external device or even in a section of the supply
equipment intended for this. Equally conceivable is a mechanical pre-treatment
for the setting of a precleterminable fiber length and / or dispersion of the
fiber
lengths and / or diameters, that, for example, can be carried out through the
refiner and associated processes known to the specialists. Thus, a suitable
pre-
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treatment can be used to improve the quality of the processed substance
mixture.
In addition, it can also be useful if at least the process steps of the
pressing
through and processing of at least parts of the processed substance mixture
are
repeated.
Through the repeated processing of the fiber-containing substance mixtures,
the
quality and homogeneity of the processed substance mixture can be increased.
In doing so, it is conceivable of feeding at least parts, or even the entire
quantity, of the processed substance mixtures through the device again. In the
process, a circulation system between the collection tank and the supply unit
can
be quite simply used for this in order to achieve a predetermined fiber
diameter
and or length dispersion. In certain cases, it can be advantageous to adjust
the
liquid components of the processed and of the reprocessing-intended substance
mixture, by, for example, adding water. Through this, a particularly fine
pulping
of the fiber constituents to nanofibers, especially nanocellulose, with
relatively
low energy and / or pressure expenditure can be achieved.
For better understanding of the invention, it is explained in more detail by
means
of the following figures:
There is shown in a highly simplified, schematic representation in:
Fig. 1 Schematic cross-section representation through a discharge
element
and a processing body for explanation of the operating principle;
Fig, 2 Schematic cross-section representation through a discharge
element
with a functional surface and a processing body for explanation of the
operating
principle;
Fig. 3 Schematic cross-section representation of possible design
shapes of
the device with two discharge elements that are allocated spaced in the
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circumferential direction to a first surface (a) and allocated to a first and
second
surface lying opposite (b);
Fig. 4 Schematic cross-section representation of processing bodies as
cylinders (a), cones (b) and band (c) with several discharge elements;
Fig. 5 Schematic representation of a discharge element in cross-
section
tilted at a solid angle (a), with a flexible end section (b), with a form-
matching
functional surface (c), and in a bottom view (d);
Fig. 6 Schematic overview presentation of a possible arrangement of a
device for the production of nanofibers.
To begin with, it should be noted that in the differently described
configurations
the same components are given the same reference characters and / or the same
component designations, whereby the disclosures contained in the complete
description can be logically transferred to the same parts with the same
reference characters and / or the same component designations. Also, the
position specifications chosen in the description, such as, for example, up,
down
sideways, etc., refer to the directly described and illustrated figure and
these
position specifications must be transferred logically to the new positions in
the
event of a change of position.
In Fig. 1, a device 1 for the production of nanofibers 5, especially of
nanocellulese 6, from a fiber- containing 3, especially pulp 4, substance
mixture
2 is schematically represented. The principle of the disintegrating of the
fiber-
containing substance mixture 2 can be seen from the cross-section
illustration. In
accordance with the invention, a moveable processing body 7 is arranged
relative
to at least one opposite lying discharge element 11. Between the discharge
element 11 and a substance mixture-affected partial surface 10 of the moveable
processing body 7, a slit-like processing area 16 is formed.
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As schematically represented in Fig. 1, the substance mixture 2 includes a
liquid
component as well as fibers 3, which can consist especially of pulp 4 or
cellulose.
The substance mixture 2 is pressed through the discharge element 11 at a
predeterminable process pressure 15. In the process, the moveable processing
body 7 can, for example, be passively moved in a relative movement through the
discharge of the processed substance mixture 2 out of the processing area 16
in
a direction of movement 23. Likewise, the processing body 7 can be actively
moved, for example, as shown in Fig. 6, in the direction of movement 23 by a
drive unit 20. On the passage of the fiber-containing 3 substance mixture 2
through the discharge element 11, the shear forces occurring in the slit-like
formed processing area 16 are utilized for the disintegrating of the fibers 3,
especially of the pulp 4 to nanofibers 5, especially nanocellulose 6.
The example configuration in Fig. 1 represents a processing body 7 formed as a
disc 22. In this case, the processing body 7 is rotatable about a rotation
axis 24
and / or flexibly mounted. The discharge element 11 has a discharge element
axis 21, that essentially corresponds to an imaginary longitudinal axis
through
the discharge element 11 in the center of the discharge opening 12. As can be
seen particularly clearly from the integrated view of Fig. 1 with Fig. 2, the
relative speed 27 in the processing area 16 can be set through the radial
distance 25 between the discharge element axis 21 and the rotation axis 24.
It can be seen from the integrated view of Fig. 1 with Fig. 2 up to Fig. 6
that in
the direction of movement 23, the moveable processing body 7 is passed by at
the discharge element 11. This relative movement takes place preferably
primarily sideways, especially preferred normal to a discharge element axis
21.
Fig. 2 shows a further and possibly independent design of the invention-
related
device. In this design, the discharge element 11 has at least in part a
functional
surface 13 surrounding the discharge opening 12. As shown, the functional
surface 13 can be formed in one piece with the discharge element 11. It is,
however, conceivable that the functional surface 13 can be attached to the
discharge element 11 as a part of an end section 14 or also as a separate
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component in order to ensure simple exchangeability. On the passing and I or
pressing of the substance mixture 2 through the discharge element 11, a
hydrodynamic bearing 29 can be formed in the processing area 16. In this case,
the processing area 16 includes the functional surface 13 and the
corresponding
opposite lying substance-affected partial surface 10. Through the formation of
a
fluid wedge in the hydrodynamic bearing 29, the contact of the discharge
elements 11 and / or the functional surface 13 with the processing body 7 can
be
avoided.
It can also be seen in Fig. 2 that the discharge element 11 has an operating
distance 17 from the substance mixture-affected partial surface 10. Such an
operating distance 17 can likewise be set for the device schematically
represented in Fig. 1.
An example of the configuration of a positioning device 18 for the positioning
of
the discharge element 11 is shown in Figures 3, 4 and Fig. 6 and is logically
transferable to Figures 1, 2 and 5. As is especially evident in the Figures 3a
and
b, the positioning device 18 can be used to move the at least one discharge
element 11 in the direction of the processing body 7 and / or at right-angles
to
this. Such a positioning device 18 can be used especially for the setting of
the
operating distance 17.
In Figures 3a, b as well as in Figures 4a to c, devices 1 are schematically
represented in which two or more discharge elements 11 are arranged relative
to
a processing body 7. Here, Fig. 3a shows two discharge elements 11 that are
spaced apart from a first surface area 8 of the processing body 7
symmetrically
from the rotation axis 24. In Fig. 3b a situation is schematically represented
whereby two discharge elements lying essentially opposite and symmetrical to
each other are arranged on a first surface area 8 respectively a second
surface
area 9 of the processing body 7. Through the design of the processing body 7
as
a disc 22, in the designs represented in Figures 3a and b any bending moments
on the disc 22 and thereby on the rotation axis can be compensated.
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The feeding of the at least one discharge element 11 can in each case be
achieved via a separate feeding device 19 or also via a common feeding device
19 for the supply of the fiber-containing 3 substance mixtures 2. For reasons
of
simplicity, the representation of such a feeding device 19 is dispensed with
in
Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5.
The moveable processing body 7 can be formed invention-related as a
rotationally symmetrical body such as a cylinder, a drum, a cone or a disc 22,
as
schematically represented in Figures 4a, 4b and 3. As an alternative, it is
possible to form the moveable processing body 7 band-shaped, for example, as a
chain or a belt as schematically shown in Fig. 4c. Especially in Figures 3 and
4, it
can be seen that several discharge elements 11 can be allocated to a commonly
used processing body 7. In doing so, the moveable processing body 7 can be
connected to a drive unit 20, as can be seen in Figures 3, 4 and 6. Such a
drive
unit 20 can, for example, be configured as a hydraulic or pneumatic motor and,
especially preferable, as an electric motor and be provided with a speed
control.
The positioning device 18 schematically represented in Figures 3, 4 and 6 can
be
formed as adjustable and / or positionable for the setting of the operating
distance 17 and / or a solid angle 26 between the at least one discharge
element
11 and the substance mixture-affected partial surface 10 of the moveable
processing body. It is likewise imaginable, that by means of a common
positioning device 18 several discharge elements 11 can be positioned together
relative to the processing body. In addition, it can be seen in Figures 3 and
4
that at least two discharge elements 11 can be arranged in the circumferential
direction and / or radial direction relative to the moveable processing body
7. In
doing so, the discharge elements 11 can be arranged symmetrically and / or off
set to each other on a first surface 8 and / or a second surface 9.
Not illustrated is a special configuration of cylinders, cones, belts or
chains in
which at least one second discharge element 11 is arranged essentially
opposite
a first discharge element 11 whereby the first discharge element 11 is
allocated
to a first surface area 8 of the moveable processing body 7 and the
corresponding, second discharge element 11 is allocated to the second surface
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area 9 lying opposite the first surface area 8. This situation is discernible
from
Fig. 3b for a processing body 7 formed as a disc and can be extrapolated by a
specialist to other rotationally symmetrical and / or band-shaped processing
bodies 7.
In Figures 5a to d, several discharge elements 11 in different possible
configurations are shown.
Here, Fig. 5a shows a discharge element 11 the discharge axis 21 of which is
arranged at a preferred, predeterminable solid angle relative to the
perpendicular
of the substance mixture-affected partial surface 10 of the processing body 7.
Such a positioning of the discharge element 11 can be carried out by means of
a
positioning device 18 as previously explained. From this schematic
representation, the formation of a hydrodynamic bearing 29 can also be clearly
seen.
Another example of a discharge element 11 is shown schematically in Fig. 5b,
wherein an end section 14 of the discharge element 11 facing the substance
mixture-affected partial area 10 is at least partially flexibly mounted.
In this way, a type of floating bearing of the end section 14 can be formed
during
the formation of the hydrodynamic bearing 29 without causing the jamming or
clogging of the end section 14.
Fig. 5c shows a schematic sectional view through a discharge element 11, one
discharge element opening surrounding functional surface 13 and a curved
surface processing body 7. The functional surface 13 is essentially formed
shape-
complementary to the substance mixture-affected partial surface 10 of the
processing body 7. Thereby, especially concave and convex shapes of the
functional surface 13 are conceivable, as is especially clearly evident in
Fig. Sc.
In Fig. 5d, another possible configuration of a discharge element 11 and a
functional surface 13 is suggested schematically in a bottom view. Thereby,
the
functional surface 13 is formed with a larger longitudinal extension in the
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direction of movement 23 than in the cross section and / or against the
intended
direction of movement 23. The motion arrows shown indicate schematically the
homogenous discharge of the processed substance mixture 2. When using such a
shaped functional surface 13, the shape can be optimized by a specialist for
the
respective application and the geometry of the processing body 7. The
processing
area 16 should, as previously explained, essentially be formed between the
functional surface 13 and the corresponding substance mixture-affected partial
surface 10.
According to the invention, the discharge elements 11 and their combination
shown in Figures 5a to d can be included in the descriptions of Figures 2, 3,
4
and 6 and for reasons of brevity are not discussed separately but are
referenced
to the appropriate discussions.
Fig. 6 shows a general schematic view of the invention-related device 1. Here
there is simply a discharge element 11 aligned relative to the moveable
processing body 7. The positioning of the discharge element 11 is done by
means
of a positioning device 18. The feeding of the substance mixture 2 takes place
via
a feeding device 19. The processing body 7 formed as a disc 22 is driven in
the
direction of movement 23 by a drive unit 20.
As can be seen from Fig. 6, the device 1 has a housing 28 that is shown in the
open state. The housing 28 serves for substance capture during processing and
can be sealed off from at least the drive unit 20 by means of one or more
sealing
elements 30. Examples of such sealing elements 30 can also be seen in Fig. 3
and can be formed as contact or also non-contact. The processed substance
mixture 2 can be collected in a collection tank 31. It is also conceivable
that the
feeding device 19 can be connected to the collection tank 31 in order to
create a
circulation principle.
Within the scope of the present invention, the individual process steps can
also
be automated and preferably, be controlled by a central, not illustrated,
system
controller. In addition, operation by means of a control panel or also a
touchscreen for the monitoring and control of the system is envisaged.
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The setting of a predeterminable dispersion of fiber lengths and / or fiber
cross-
sections and / or their distribution can be specified by the user and be
controlled
by means of a system controller. The repeated throughput of at least parts of
the
processed substance mixture 2 can also be used for the setting of the
homogeneity and / or quality of the nanofibers 5 respectively, nanocellulose
6.
The consistency of the substance mixture 2 can have an influence on the
quality
of the processed substance mixture 2. With the present device 1 and the
corresponding processes, suspensions, that is, substance mixtures 2, with a
fiber
content of 0,1 to approx. 10 vol.%, preferably 1 to approx. 8 vol.%, can be
reliably and easily processed, Consistencies up to 25 vol. /0 and over are
also
conceivable. Here, under certain circumstances, it may be necessary that the
specialist falls back on suitable feeding devices 19 that are capable of
delivering
substance mixtures 2 with such high consistencies under the application of a
sufficiently high process pressure 15. Especially suitable for this are, for
example,
high pressure feed screw configurations.
The embodiments show possible design variants, whereby at this point it is
noted
that the invention is not limited to the specific design variants described,
in fact
much more is possible, even various combinations of the individual design
variants with each other, and this possibility of variation is due to the
teaching of
technical action through objective creation lying in the skills of the
specialist
active in this technical area.
The scope of protection is determined by the claims, The description and the
drawings, however, must be used for the interpretation of the claims.
Individual
features or feature combinations from the illustrated and described various
embodiments can represent stand-alone, innovative solutions. The underlying
task for the stand-alone innovative solutions can be taken from the
description.
All information about the value ranges in the representational description
should
be understood to include any and all sub-areas thereof, for example, the
specification 1 to 10 must be understood to include all sub-areas starting
from
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the lower limit 1 and the upper limit 10, this means that all sub-areas start
with
a lower limit, 1, or greater and end at an upper limit of 10 or less, for
example, 1
to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1 or 5.5 to 10.
For the sake of good order, it should be noted that for better understanding
of
the design, some elements have been illustrated not to scale and / or enlarged
and / or scaled down.
Reference Character List
1 Device
2 Substance mixture
3 Fiber
30 Sealing element
31 Collection tank
4 Pulp
Nanofiber
6 Nanocellulose
7 Processing body
8 First surface
9 Second surface
Substance mixture-affected partial surface
11 Discharge element
12 Discharge opening
13 Functional surface
14 End section
Process pressure
16 Processing area
17 Operating distance
18 Positioning device
19 Feeding device
Drive unit
21 Discharge element axis
22 Disc
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23 Direction of movement
24 Rotation axis
25 Radial distance
26 Solid angle
27 Relative speed
28 Housing
29 Hydrodynamic bearing
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-01
